DENVER — Ryan O'Reilly was credited with a bizarre goal 51 seconds into overtime following an errant clear by defenseman Dan Boyle, giving the Colorado Avalanche a 1-0 victory over San Jose last night and a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference series.

Craig Anderson was simply splendid in net all night, stopping 51 shots.

Both Evgeni Nabokov and Anderson were locked in on this night after allowing a combined 11 goals in Game 2.

Nabokov didn't have much of a chance on the winner. He was hugging the post when Boyle tried to send the puck around the boards as O'Reilly pursued him. The puck wound up sneaking in between Nabokov and the post.

"We didn't beat their goalie. We found a way to beat ours," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said.

Game 4 is tomorrow in Denver.

Anderson is used to seeing a large volume of pucks, leading the NHL in shots faced and saves this season.

He never blinked, even when being outshot by a 42-7 margin in the final two periods. He was sprawling and diving all over the ice the entire game.

"When you work hard and you stay positive, good results happen and you get the lucky bounces," Anderson said. "It's remarkable."

The Sharks were missing a big piece of their offense as Dany Heatley sat out with an unspecified injury.

The Avalanche's Milan Hejduk went out early with an injury to his upper body. He was hurt in a collision with teammate Paul Stastny as they drifted into the Sharks' zone.

COYOTES 4, RED WINGS 2

DETROIT — Petr Prucha and Radim Vrbata scored midway through the third period, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 29 saves to help Phoenix take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference series.

Phoenix defenseman Sami Lepisto scored 29 seconds into the game, the fastest playoff goal in franchise history, and Wojtek Wolski scored late in the second period.

Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen scored for Detroit.

Game 4 is tomorrow night in Detroit.

BLACKHAWKS 2, PREDATORS 0

CHICAGO — Antti Niemi made 23 saves for a shutout in his second career playoff game, Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane scored, and Chicago beat Nashville to tie the Western Conference series at a game apiece.

After giving up two third-period goals in a 4-1 loss in Game 1, Niemi was sharp from the outset yesterday. The rookie had seven shutouts during the regular season.

Game 3 is tomorrow night.

FLYERS 3, DEVILS 2

PHILADELPHIA — Dan Carcillo scored 3:35 into overtime to give Philadelphia a victory over New Jersey and a 2-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference series.

Carcillo knocked in a rebound off Mike Richards' shot for his first goal of the postseason. The Flyers pounded goalie Martin Brodeur all game and outshot the Devils 6-1 in the brief overtime.

Claude Giroux and Richards scored in regulation for the Flyers. Brian Rolston had two power-play goals for the Devils.

Game 4 is tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

PENGUINS 4, SENATORS 2

OTTAWA — Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, Evgeni Malkin scored his third playoff goal, and Pittsburgh beat Ottawa to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves, and Alexei Ponikarovsky and Bill Guerin also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, who won their second in a row following a 5-4 loss to the Senators in the opener.

Mike Fisher and Matt Cullen scored power-play goals for Ottawa.

Game 4 is tomorrow night in Ottawa.